OBJECTIVE:To enrich the identification diversity of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),and provide theoretical guidance for the quality evaluation of TCM. METHODS:According to literature references and traditional identification experienc-es,characteristics including medicinal shape,size,color and lustre,surface,texture,section,odor and other aspects were identi-fied by sense organs such as eyes,hands,nose and mouth. The vivid traditional identification term were obtained through systemat-ic summarization in order to explore the internal relationship with pharmaceutical botany. RESULTS&CONCLUSIONS:As the sim-plest identification method,traditional identification method can rapidly identify the species and quality of TCM,evaluate the quali-ty,and has great significance to solve the security issues of clinical medication and health care in daily life. There was a correlation between the traditional identification and botanical research,which could be able to provide theoretical guidance to characters identi-fication and quality evaluation of TCM.

Objectives To investigate the clinical features of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in children from Shen-zhen. Methods The clinical manifestations, results of electrophysiological tests and prognosis of 28 GBS patients from July 2002 to July 2012 were retrospectively analysed. Results Of 28 children, 16(57.1%) had preceding acute upper respiratory infection for 3-14 days but no patient had acute gastroenteritis. One had received HBV vaccination in 2 weeks before the onset of GBS. The peak season for GBS is spring. According to the clinical presentations and the neurophysiological results 17 patients had demyelinating neuropathy, 5 acute motor axonal neuropathy, 2 acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy, 3 Miller-fisher syndrome, and 1 polyneuritis cranialis. 14 (50.0%) patients suffered from pain in limbs which is the most nota-ble symptom in the early stage. Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) and steroids were given during the acute phases in the majority of the patients, and assisted ventilation was performed in 2 patients due to respiratory muscle paralysis. No diffe-rence was found in Hughes scores, average hospitalization durations, and the prognosis between patients with GBS variants patients and patients with classic GBS. Conclusions Children with GBS in Shenzhen area have different clinical features.

AIM:To further elaborate the effect of glucocorticoid receptor(GR) decrease on level of inflammatory media in rats after critical scald.METHOD:The changes of phospholipase A 2(PLA 2) activity and concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF?) and malondialdehyde (MDA), the product of lipid peroxidation metabolism in plasma and tissue homogenate have been studied in scalded rats with or without GR blockade by RU38486.RESULTS:The PLA 2 activity and the concentrations of TNF? and MDA in plasma and homogenate of pulmonary and renal tissue in scalded rats were significantly higher than those in the controls( P

Background and purpose:Currently, subjective questionaire is the most frequently used methods to evaluate swallowing dysfunctions after radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, while lacking of effective objective examinations. This study aimed to explore effective methods to evaluate swallowing dysfunctions after radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, and gain knowledge of the incidence and severity of swallowing dysfunctions. Methods: From Oct. 2013 to Dec. 2013, 128 consecutive outpatients with previously treated nasopharyngeal carcinoma received esophageal barium lfuoroscopy examination at there regularly follow-ups to evaluate swallowing function. Among these patients, 89 were primary treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and 39 with conventional radiotherapy (CRT). In this study, each patient received esophageal barium lfuoroscopy examination for 3 times with thin, thick and pasty barium and were dynamically observed using X-ray fluoroscopy from front and lateral direction. Swallowing dysfunctions were defined as follows:①The bolus could not be swallowed and blocked in the mouth;②The dilute barium diverted to the glottis or trachea;③Residual barium delayed in the pyriform sinus and vallecula;④The movement of the hyoid bone or epiglottis were restricted;⑤Bolus prolong through the pharynx;⑥Barium slowed down when went though the esophageal entrance. Results:Of the 128 patients, incidence of dysphagia was 60.2%for the entire cohort, 52.8%for IMRT group and 76.9%for CRT group. Incidence of dysphagia for IMRT group was signiifcantly lower than CRT group (P=0.018). Dysphagia incidence within 1 year, 1 to 2 years and more than 2 years after RT were 63.1%, 33.3%and 69.0%, respectively (P=0.019). Conclusion:There was a high incidence of swallowing dysfunction for the nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy and dysphagia incidence decreased when treated with IMRT. Esophageal barium lfuoroscopy examination is objective method to evaluate the incidence and severity of the swallowing dysfunction.

Objective To analyze the radionuclide bone imaging in 343 primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma cases and to know the positive ratio and its prognosis. Methods 343 cases with primary NPC were examined by radionuclide bone imaging in order to find if there was bone metastases and analyze in single and multi factors, and then to know its prognosis. Results The positive ratio of 343 NPC cases was 32.9 %, men 37.5%, women 17.7%. There was significant statistic value in sex, age and staging through Binary Logistic Regress analysis. Men, the more advanced staging, the older people, the earlier to metastases.The overall accumulate survival ratio was 1 year 92.1%, 2 year 83.9 %, 3 year 78.8 %. Conclusion Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is easy to metastases. Radionuclide bone imaging should be performed in the patients with NPC because it is important to evaluate the staging and therapy.

Objective To analyze the changes of benign and malignant thyroid nodules during followup and to increase the diagnostic accuracy.Methods The ultrasonographic changes of 161 thyroid nodules confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed,including size,internal components,echogenicity,margin,microcalcification,anteroposterior to transverse dimension ratio(A/T) and the relationships with thyroid capsule,and the change of cervical lymph nodes.Results Ninety-three benign thyroid nodules and 68 malignant thyroid nodules were enrolled in this study,the changes in size,internal components,microcalcification,the relationships with glandular capsule,and cervical lymph nodes were significantly different (P ＜ 0.05),while the echogenicity,margin,and A/T were not significantly different,benign nodules changed more easily in size and internal components,while malignant nodules changed more easily in microcalcification.Both the nodules broken the thyroid capsule or cervical lymph nodes exhibited malignant signs suggest probable malignancy.Conclusions Analyzing the ultrasonographic changes during follow-up contributes to identify benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Objective To explore the value of high frequency ultrasound in differential diagnosis in dorsal thyroid (including gland dorsal or posterior) nodules.Methods Ultrasonographic features of 101 patients with ultrasonography suspected or misdiagnosed nodules in the dorsal area of the thyroid gland,which were then confirmed by pathology or hyaluronography/gastroscopy,were retrospectively analyzed.Ultrasonographic homogeneity (other nodules with similar ultrasonographic features were found in the ipsilateral gland),parenchyma homology (nodule parenchyma was continuous with glandular parenchyma) and blood homology (blood flow signals in nodules were continuous with those in glandular parenchyma) were applied as indicators for determinng thyroid nodules.Double-line sign or vascular arch sign at the edge of nodules served as an indicator for determining parathyroid nodules.Results Of the 101 cases,there were 46 thyroid nodules,35 parathyroid nodules,7 enlarged lymph nodes;6 esophageal diverticulum,6 esophageal cancer,1 cleft cyst.The determination of thyroid nodules by at least one of ultrasonographic homogeneity,parenchyma homology and blood homology showed sensitivity of 73.5 ％,specificity of 96.5 ％ and accuracy of 85.8％.In the determination of parathyroid nodules by double-line sign or vascular arch sign at the edge of nodules,sensitivity,specificity and accuracy was 54.1％,85.5 ％ and 74.5 ％,respectively.Conclusions Nodules in the dorsal area of the thyroid gland have different sources,and the understanding of corresponding characteristic ultrasonographic appearances is helpful for improving the differential diagnosis of these nodules.

Fatty acid synthase (FAS) catalyses the reaction between acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA to produce fatty acids. It is one of the most important enzyme in lipid biosynthesis. FAS of the oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides has two acyl carrier protein (ACP) domains and a distinct subunit composition compared with FASs of other species. As ACP is a protein cofactor crucial for fatty acid chain elongation, more ACPs in the FAS may facilitate the reaction. To study the biochemical and structural properties of this novel FAS from R. toruloides, plasmids were constructed and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The strain ZWE06 harboring plasmids pET22b-FAS1 and pET24b-FAS2 could co-overexpress the two subunits. The recombinant FAS was purified by sequentially using ammonium sulphate precipitation, sucrose density gradient centrifugation and anion exchange chromatography. The specific activity of the recombinant FAS was 548 mU/mg. The purified complex would be used to study enzyme kinetics and protein structure of FAS, and heterogeneous expression and purification will facilitate revealing the mechanism of this novel FAS with double ACPs.
Acyl Carrier Protein ; Basidiomycota ; enzymology ; Chromatography ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Fatty Acid Synthases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Fatty Acids ; biosynthesis ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

BACKGROUND:Mechanical properties of the blood vessels include axial and radial tension which is important to guarantee the tissue perfusion and its pressure. OBJECTIVE:To test and analyze stretching and puncture parameters that can ful y characterize the performance of blood vessels, so as to predict the health condition of the vessels transplanted into recipients. METHODS:Mechanical properties as circumferential tension, axial tension and puncture were tested on the porcine aorta, and then pathological and staining analysis was done to explore whether freeze-dried vessels can withstand the blood pressure in al directions after transplanted into the body. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Specific trend on the curves of freeze-dried vessels during circumferential tension, axial tension and puncture process was closer to that of fresh vessel curves, suggesting that structural components and arrangement of the freeze-dried vessels were not changed greatly. Meanwhile, the microscopic observations of slice and tensile section were taken into account so that the reason was studied and explained for the mechanical properties of the experimental data and results. The macroscopic mechanical result was analyzed based on the change of microstructure. These findings indicate that the vacuum freeze-drying is a better method to maintain the performance of blood vessels.

Objective To explore the efficacy of ketogenic diet( KD) in the treatment of status epi-lepticus( SE) and whether KD could protect the brain,and propose a new thought on SE patients′reasonably individualized treatment, brain protection and prognosis improvement. Methods From Sep 2013 to Jan 2015,all the patients diagnosed as SE were advised to apply KD treatment; the patients who refused KD treatment were included in the control group,while the patients who accepted KD treatment were included in the treatment group. Based on the SE treatment principles,the control group applied traditional anti-convulsive therapy,while the treatment group applied traditional therapy combined with KD treatment. Before the treat-ment and after the epilepsy control,the patients′ serum was collected to test neuron specific enolase( NSE) and S100βlevels,and the duration of epilepsy control was recorded. Results The treatment group included a total of 10 patients; 3 patients had a good efficacy and obtained seizure-free after the treatment; clinical seizures declined significantly in 6 patients. The treatment group′s overall response rate was 9/10,which was higher than that of the control group(5/8)(P<0. 01). The treatment group′s duration to gain efficacy was shorter than that of the control group[(5. 2 ± 2. 9) d vs. (9. 8 ± 1. 5) d,P<0. 01]. After the treatment,the patients′NSE and S100β in both groups were significantly decreased than those before the treatment ( P<0. 001 or P<0. 05). After the treatment,the serum NSE and S100β of the patients in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group,with statistically significant difference(P<0. 05). Conclusion Frequent epileptic seizures and SE would impair the patient′s brain. Controlling the epileptic seizures actively could lower the severity of brain injury. KD could effectively control the epileptic seizure and had neuropro-tective effects.